She’d grown tall and beautiful in the last three years. So beautiful it hurt to look at her. Her light brown hair bounced in a nimbus of curls around her shoulders. Her brown eyes sparkled in the light, as did her straight white teeth. Seeing her, Josiah wanted to show off. He wanted to meet Peter’s attack head-on and drive the bully away. But he knew from experience that the moment this kind of thinking took over, he would be finished.
Resisting the urge to rush his opponent, Josiah feinted, and when Peter reacted, he made a lightning-swift movement, changing his direction and hitting the bigger boy on the ribs with bruising force.
Peter cursed and swung wildly, which opened him to a hit on the shoulder. Josiah dropped his practice sword between his opponent’s legs. A deft twist and Peter lay sprawled on the ground before him. The bigger boy laughed.
"You’ve learned some new tricks, shrimp. Not bad. But you’ll never be a real man. By the time you reach adult size, it will be too late."
Knowing better than to rise to the bait, Josiah stretched out his hand. The rules of manners had been drilled into all the children.
In a move faster than it seemed possible such a bulky boy should be able to do, Peter reversed their positions, throwing Josiah to the ground and placing a size fifteen sneaker on his throat. He pressed down just a little, enough to restrict Josiah’s airway slightly.
"Too trusting," Peter tutted. "Too bad for you, shrimp. By the time you grow up, I’ll have your pretty Annie all to myself. Just imagine it, you little worm. You’ll be celebrating your twentieth birthday and I’ll be screwing your girl." Peter laughed. He let just a hint more weight press down on Josiah’s throat.
And then, without warning, Peter was flying across the courtyard, landing in a heap.
"I have something to say about that, you disgusting toad," Annie snarled. "Josiah, are you all right?" She knelt beside him.
Josiah blinked, wondering what had happened. It slowly dawned on him that Annie must have knocked Peter away from him. He ground his teeth. Even a girl was tougher and stronger than him.
"I’m fine," he snarled, twitching her hand off his shoulder. "I don’t need any help."
He hauled himself to his feet and stalked away, back towards the compound. He’d had enough practice for one day.
***
"Father?"
Lucien looked up from the report he was writing.
"Do you have a minute?" Josiah stepped into the council chamber, massaging his throat. His voice sounded hoarse.
"Of course, son," Lucien replied, shoving back the chair next to him. Josiah sat. "What’s on your mind?"
"I... I think I’m in love."
Lucien nodded. "Annie is a very special girl. I’m not surprised."
Josiah blushed, but didn’t deny it. "Do you think we’ll ever be... together?"
Lucien considered for a moment. "I don’t see why not."
"Mr. Smith hates me." Josiah said darkly.
Lucien smiled. Teens were so dramatic. "I don’t think he does. Most likely he’s concerned for his granddaughter is all. She’s his last living relative. After he lost his wife to cancer all those years ago, and then Pearl and her husband, and Annie’s younger brother in that succubus attack, well it’s not surprising he’s protective of Annie."
"It’s more than that, Father. He really does hate me. I can feel it."
"Son, I’ve known him for so long. Long before he was called mister. by anyone. Back when he was Moses Smith, minor cleric. He was my sidekick, you know."
Josiah raised one dark eyebrow. "But he’s so old."
"But don’t forget, son. He’s human. He has a human lifespan. He may seem old now, but I can clearly remember when he was born. He fought by my side in his twenties and thirties."
"How old are you, Father?" Josiah asked hesitantly.
"I don’t exactly know," he replied. "It’s hard to measure in human years. I was a young naphil when the Flood occurred."
Josiah’s eyes widened. "Do you remember it? What was it like? Did you lose many friends?"
"Slow down, Josiah," Lucien said, laughing. "No, I didn’t lose any friends. The people who lived back then were... horrible. Every bit as bad as the Scriptures say. They make some of the succubae look like little lambs. Believe me, son, the Creator was right to wipe them out."
"But what was the flood like? Can’t nephilim drown?"
"Of course we can. But to be honest... I don’t know how we survived it." He saw his son was about to interrupt with a barrage of questions and held up his hand. "The flood was not meant for us. We were told that in advance. We protected Noah and his family. We brought the animals. And then, when the first drops of rain began to fall, we all went to sleep. When we woke up, the world was completely different. So I have no idea what happened to us in between, but it was obviously divine protection."
Josiah’s mouth hung open. Clearly this information was more than he could comprehend. Well, truthfully neither could Lucien.
"But, Father, how did the succubae survive? They were alive then, right?"
"Yes, son, they were. There weren’t as many. Lilith has been breeding for thousands of years since then. As for how they survived, I’m not sure of that either. Except... I’ve always had the theory that the hive is not exactly on earth. And before you ask, I don’t know where it is either. If we knew, we would have assaulted it centuries ago, before the numbers of succubae and drones grew so great. But we’ve never been able to find them."
Josiah nodded. "Doesn’t it bother you, all the things you don’t know?"
"Sometimes," Lucien replied, "but I trust in the divine plan. The Creator has never led us astray. Even our mistakes can be used for good. Never doubt that, Josiah. No matter what happens, the Creator’s plan has not faltered. It twists and turns along the paths we take, and still comes out just the way He intended. Have faith, son."
"If I could be with Annie, I would never doubt again. Can you even imagine, Father, what it’s like to be so very in love?"
A wave of sorrow washed over Lucien. "I don’t have to imagine, Josiah. I know."
"You do?" the teen regarded him with wide green eyes which seemed to burn into the depths of his soul.
"Of course. Where do you think you came from? I would never have broken my vows for lust or curiosity. I loved your mother. I love her still."
"Then where is she?" the child asked bitterly. "Why has she never come to me? Did she not love you back? Or was it me she didn’t want?"
"Stop that, Josiah," Lucien growled, his grief making his tone gruff and harsh. "She loved me. And she loved you too. She would never have left you."
"But she did. Did she die?"
"I hope not. Listen, what would you do for Annie, if she asked it of you? What would you deny her?"
"Nothing," Josiah said firmly.
"Really? And what if she asked you to leave her? What if she asked you to take your baby and walk away? What if it was the only way to ensure the little one would grow up safe? Would you do it, Josiah? I know you didn’t understand as a child, but you’re nearly an adult. Can you imagine a love that great? A sacrifice that deep? She didn’t give you up because of a lack of love, but because of an excess. She loved you too much to let you live in danger. And she’s always in danger, son. And the only way I can protect her is to stay far away..." Lucien’s voice stopped. It didn’t break. It just refused to come out, as though his throat had closed. He looked into his son’s eyes again and saw Sarahi in those glowing depths.
His throat opened and a flood of words spilled out. "If only I could express to you, son. Your mother was so... beautiful. So perfect. She was so very happy when she was pregnant with you, stroking her belly and singing. Her soul shone like a gemstone; pure, pink light. I loved just looking at her. Knowing it was my child growing inside her... sometimes I thought I would burst. Believe me, Josiah. You are loved and wanted."
His son swallowed hard but said nothing. At last he nodded slowly, his expression far awa
y. He reached out his hand and Lucien stood, hauling him into a tight hug. Then the boy trailed out, leaving his father alone with his memories and grief.
***
BANG. The bullet whizzed over the top of the target, over the wall, and thudded into the badly scarred trunk of a gnarled jack pine just behind. Peter snarled in frustration. He glanced at Mr. Smith, who was regarding him with a questioning expression.
"What?" Peter asked, irritated beyond measure by that quizzical look.
"You’re normally a crack shot, my boy. What’s wrong with you today? That’s the fifth one you’ve missed."
"I had a rough night," Peter answered, not really wanting to explain why he was in such a funk.
Mr. Smith didn’t speak. Just kept on giving him that annoying stare.
"Okay, I had a bad dream," he spat out at last.
"About what?"
Peter felt his cheeks burn. It had been such a stupid one. "I’d rather not get into it."
"Dreams are important," Mr. Smith replied. "You might be a seer. Don’t be embarrassed. Just tell me."
Peter sulked but Smith did not relent.
"Fine," the boy burst out. "I dreamed I was lying on the ground. I was trapped and couldn’t move. And... someone... Josiah was standing over me. He said, ‘how do you like it, jackass?’ and then he sort of... waved his hand, like he was picking something up. And then I woke up feeling like shit."
Smith scowled at the obscenity but said nothing.
"Stupid dream, right?"
Still Smith didn’t speak.
"It was just a dream, right?"
"I don’t know. I’ve often wondered... after a confrontation with Josiah, more than one person has reported feeling... tired, drained. I don’t know what it means. Maybe the boy is some kind of psychic vampire. I would give a lot to know who his mother was."
Peter scoffed. "What a lot of hooey," he sneered. "Psychic vampire?" He burst out laughing. Smith was really on a roll today.
"You’d be wise not to think yourself so clever," Smith told Peter, effectively shutting down his mockery. "There’s a great deal in this world you don’t understand."
Chapter 12
Montana 1998
"Come on, Josiah," Annie urged, lacing her fingers through her boyfriend’s and running down the white-tiled floors of the compound. Class had just ended for the day, and the two trainees hurried outside to enjoy the late-spring freshness. They passed by door after door of meeting rooms, classrooms, and apartment suites which lined the hallways of their home, and out into the soft spring grass. The breeze they generated with their movements was fragrant with pine and flowers. Though the courtyard was completely encircled with a high white-stone wall, the adept nineteen-year-olds were more than able to climb over it and escape into the hills beyond. And that’s just what they did. First Josiah clambered to the top, tearing the knee out of his blue jeans on the rough stone, so a hint of café au lait skin peeked through. Then he lowered his hand and grasped Annie’s. Her skin was lighter than his, more of a caramel color, but she remained his match physically: tall, long-limbed, and strong. Despite the ankle-length skirt which hampered her movements, she managed to climb up. For a moment they stood side by side on top of the wall, surveying the wide-open land beyond the compound. Up to this point, the L-shaped structure with its one three-story tower, walled courtyard and pavilion at one end had been their entire world. But now, facing adulthood, they were both feeling curious about what might lay beyond those walls. Apart from the uneven Montana landscape, that is. From here, all they could see in front of them was a tree-covered hill. To the left, a deep depression in the earth had grown into a lovely meadow. To the right, long, flat level land stretched as far as the eye could see. Now, in May, every surface was covered in fragrant wildflowers of astonishing color. Josiah hopped from the wall and helped Annie down, her long skirt billowing. He kissed her lips gently and then they were running again, down the hill to the meadow.
The warm spring sun beat down on them as they embraced in the hip-deep grass. They’d been doing this more and more lately, and Annie was starting to feel a little nervous about where it was all headed. Of course, she had every intention of marrying Josiah someday, but the clerics were quite determined that as many young people as possible would earn a white wedding. They didn’t always succeed. Annie was quite sure she’d seen a little baby bump or two under the plain white wedding dresses, but she didn’t want that. She wanted to wait. She was not sure, however, what Josiah had in mind. His determination to get her alone made her a bit suspicious. It was about time they talked about it.
"Josiah..."
Instead of listening, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Well, there was no harm in a kiss, right? They were practically engaged.
She returned his kiss, snaking her long, slender arms around his neck and opening her mouth. He was so sexy. His full lips compressed hers and he tasted her deep. She knew he’d never kissed anyone else. They’d shared their first embrace years ago. He’d required no adjustment time whatsoever. The first kiss had been just as intoxicating as this one. It almost seemed as though he was born knowing how. If so, being his wife would be... very nice. She couldn’t wait. The rules stated that young people could not marry before the age of twenty, but that was less than a year away. It was about time they talked about it.
"Josiah..." she tried to speak again, but his hand closed over her breast and her thought process stopped. There was a brief sense of falling, made safe by his arms around her back, and then she was cradled by the earth, the tall grass waving over her head as her beloved lowered his mouth back to hers.
"I love you," she breathed. "I can’t wait until we get married."
"I can’t wait either," he said. The last part of her mind which was rational told her he didn’t mean the same thing by that as she did, but the thought floated away as he skimmed her white blouse upward, leaning down to press his full, sensuous lips against the flat plane of her belly. She laced her fingers into his coarse black hair. He nudged the shirt up with his chin and kissed her rib cage, kiss after burning kiss, nipping her skin. Annie whimpered.
"Josiah," she managed to force out while his mouth was otherwise occupied. "When do you want to get married?"
"I don’t know," he replied. He grasped her blouse in his teeth and lifted it higher, baring her breasts in the sunshine. She rarely bothered with a bra, small as she was, and Josiah took shameless advantage of that fact, lowering his mouth to one erect brown nipple and sucking it to throbbing tumescence.
Annie moaned, her reticence floating away. What if he was lifting her skirt? She no longer cared to resist. She only wanted to be as close to Josiah as possible. He switched from one nipple to the other, and the spring breeze fondled the wet one like a lover’s caress. Annie moaned.
"Let me, sweet Annie," he murmured against her breast, "say yes."
"Oh, Josiah," she moaned. He reached under her skirt and cupped the apex of her thighs, where her hot, delicate flesh throbbed and ached in anticipation. He slipped her panties aside, parted her virgin lips and delved through, touching her wetness. Just as she had suspected, he possessed a natural affinity for sex, and she opened her thighs, eager to experience more. One finger slid deep into her as the heel of his hand compressed her clitoris, stimulating the sensitive nub.
Annie wailed in pleasure.
"Say yes, Annie," he urged.
"Oh, Josiah, yes."
No sooner had the words crossed her lips than his fingers were withdrawn. He drew her panties down and off. Then his body was over hers. She opened for him again. His penis touched her intimate flesh. She sighed, all thoughts of white weddings forgotten. All she could think, feel, want, was Josiah. She felt his flanks flex in preparation for the plunge into her...
And then his weight disappeared from her body. Annie opened her eyes. When had she closed them? A shadow stood between her and the late spring sunshine. It took several seconds for her to focus, and then...
/>
"Grandfather?"
The wiry man tossed Josiah away as though he weighed no more than a kitten. The boy stumbled.
"Hannah, cover yourself." He averted his eyes from her bare body.
Face burning, Annie shoved her skirt down over her bare legs and twitched her blouse back into place.
"Josiah, go to your room and wait for me. If you’re not there when I arrive, you’ll never be welcome in this community again. Do I make myself clear?" His voice was calm, but his eyes flashed like chips of onyx.
"Yes, sir," Josiah replied, struggling to his feet and racing up the hill to the compound.
"Well, Hannah?"
"Annie, please, grandfather."
"Never mind about that. What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?"
"That I love Josiah, and I want to marry him." Annie rose gracefully to her feet and met her grandfather’s eyes with her own unflinching gaze.
"But you are not married to him. No one has asked the elders. And you’re underage. I don’t see an almost married couple. I see a young, naïve fool being seduced by a bad..."
"Stop it," Annie screamed. "I love Josiah. He’s not bad."
"There’s something wrong with him, Annie."
Tears of Blood Page 6